Burning through snowblower belts

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
Mower and snowblower models in signature. I go through about 2 belts in a winter season. It's the belt between the clutch and quick attach pulley that keeps burning up. I can smell the belt burning within 2 minutes of use, even on a brand new belt. I originally was thinking the center pulley is dragging, but I don't see any grease points for the center pulley and it turns easily by hand without the belts attached. I've used kevlar and normal belts, both burn up. Thoughts on what to look for on why it could be going through belts so fast?
 

asgard

Member

Equipment
B2301, 60 inch deck, 51inch blower
Oct 22, 2016
147
15
18
Ontario, Canada
Have you looked at the runout, maybe the pulleys are out of alignment? How tight are the belts with the tensioner? I once rebuilt a set that was mismatched, the belt angle did not match one of the pulleys.
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
I did not think to check the pulley drag when hot, I will do that.

How would I fix the angle? I do remember the top side of the previous belt being extremely worn just before it broke, so maybe the pulley angle is off?
 

85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,347
2,170
113
Bedford - VA
See if the belt sits down IN the pulley ..... which it should NOT do if a standard V belt. Belts should ride on the edges of the pulley angled faces - not in the bottom of the groove itself.

1610846697589.png
 
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Orange1forme

Active member

Equipment
B2650 HSDC, filled tires, wheel spacers, B2728B , LA534A FEL, 3rd valve kit
Dec 1, 2018
394
56
28
Wa
On another brand of belt driven sowblower, I had a similar issue that was solved by a second mounting position on the subframe.
 

asgard

Member

Equipment
B2301, 60 inch deck, 51inch blower
Oct 22, 2016
147
15
18
Ontario, Canada
Have you tried a straight edge across the pulleys and then check they are both the same internal angle for the belt groove angle as shown in 85 hokie's illustration.
I think it is a combination of alignment and belt face angle.
1610850010521.png
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
Looks like I have some parallel misalignment according to asgard's picture. I'm not sure what I can do about this since the angle of the pulley is determined by the lever arms that move it up and down, and the lever arm position is determined by the rear pins on the raise/lower bars (that the mower deck uses too). Is there a way to correct this?

Picture is with the blower down as if I'm using it. In the up position it's slightly more aligned, but still not right.
 

Attachments

85Hokie

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Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,347
2,170
113
Bedford - VA
That right there will KILL a belt!!!!
Any kind of nick on that pulley and it will cook and tear a belt.

1610855222598.png
 

Orange1forme

Active member

Equipment
B2650 HSDC, filled tires, wheel spacers, B2728B , LA534A FEL, 3rd valve kit
Dec 1, 2018
394
56
28
Wa
Looks like I have some parallel misalignment according to asgard's picture. I'm not sure what I can do about this since the angle of the pulley is determined by the lever arms that move it up and down, and the lever arm position is determined by the rear pins on the raise/lower bars (that the mower deck uses too). Is there a way to correct this?

Picture is with the blower down as if I'm using it. In the up position it's slightly more aligned, but still not right.

This seems to be the description I was given with my set up.
As I said, there was an additional set of holes in the rear of the sub frame, lower, that allowed the unit to drop. Once done, no more belt issues.
 

Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,158
2,368
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
My only experience is with pulleys on wood working equipment, but I must say my first impression of belt alignment in your photo was pretty bad...

I think as others above with more experience with your equipment stated, you now know the answer to your question...
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
This seems to be the description I was given with my set up.
As I said, there was an additional set of holes in the rear of the sub frame, lower, that allowed the unit to drop. Once done, no more belt issues.
Do you have a picture of the holes you're referring to? I don't see another set of mounting holes that could change the geometry to align the belts. I'm wondering if I'm maybe missing some brackets or something.
 

mikester

Well-known member

Equipment
M59 TLB
Oct 21, 2017
3,148
1,626
113
Canada
www.divergentstuff.ca
Looks like I have some parallel misalignment according to asgard's picture. I'm not sure what I can do about this since the angle of the pulley is determined by the lever arms that move it up and down, and the lever arm position is determined by the rear pins on the raise/lower bars (that the mower deck uses too). Is there a way to correct this?

Picture is with the blower down as if I'm using it. In the up position it's slightly more aligned, but still not right.
Look for and post a schematic of the pulley system. It's hard to offer any suggestions after seeing only one pulley.
 

GreensvilleJay

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Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,909
4,063
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
YIKES, even a blind man can see that's Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay wrong !!! My guess is that 'something' got bent and needs a good 'tweak' to realign things up. One of those 'gotta be there' repairs, to SEE what's wrong.
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
I'll have to take a look at it to see if any of the brackets or mounting points are bent. I know the plate arm things that connect the quick attack to the raise/lower arms of the mower are undamaged, but there may be others I haven't noticed.

Unfortunately I can't find any diagrams that show the whole snowblower/quick attack/tractor diagram. They're each individual and do not show the placement of each relative to the other.
 

Russell King

Well-known member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
4,667
1,003
113
Austin, Texas
The length of the arms is correct? If the pulleys were further apart the belt angle would be better.
 

Orange1forme

Active member

Equipment
B2650 HSDC, filled tires, wheel spacers, B2728B , LA534A FEL, 3rd valve kit
Dec 1, 2018
394
56
28
Wa
Do you have a picture of the holes you're referring to? I don't see another set of mounting holes that could change the geometry to align the belts. I'm wondering if I'm maybe missing some brackets or something.
My situation, as stated, was with other mfr's equipment.
I was simply pointing out that belt alignment is crucial before looking anyplace else.

I had a riding mower(green) with a Bercomac snowblower. There was a subframe that had 2 sets of mounting holes and it came bolted in the upper holes and needed to be in the lower(or vice versa). once that was done, no more belt issues.

I cannot say what options you have.
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
Looking over all of the attachment points, I don't think there is anything to adjust. Only thing I can think of is something got damaged. The raise/lower arms can't move forward to correct the belt alignment due to the holes the pins go in, and the quick attach can't move back any farther because of the attachment point at the front. I don't see any pins or holes that can be changed either, so I may just have to take everything off and see what's not right.

Only thing I can think of is the belt from the blower to the quick attach is not the correct length and is putting unnecessary pull on the other belt, but I don't think that make sense since the raise/lower arms are fixed in position and wouldn't allow that.

If I ever find out what it was I'll share the solution, but for now I'll have to use it as is and have extra belts on hand.
 

BruceP

Well-known member

Equipment
G5200H
Aug 7, 2016
837
355
63
Richmond, Vermont, USA
Is it possible that somewere along the line the wrong length belt got put onto the machine? Perhaps the pullies are being 'pulled' too close together causing them to tilt?
 

orangekuby

Member

Equipment
TG1860G, BX2200
Aug 9, 2019
86
10
8
United States
That's a possibility for the snowblower side. I haven't replaced that belt in the two years I've owned it. I might take that one off and measure it.